It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Major James Joshua Bowman, Lieutenant Neal Turkington and Corporal Arjun Purja Pun from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles who were killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 13 July 2010.

The three soldiers, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), were killed in a suspected premeditated attack by a member of the Afghan National Army.

Major Josh Bowman was 34 years old and from Salisbury. He started his career in the British Army as a rifle platoon commander in B Company 1st Battalion The Light Infantry having commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1999.

Lieutenant Neal Turkington was born in Craigavon in Northern Ireland and was soon to celebrate his 27th birthday.

After graduating from Imperial College London he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 2007.

Corporal Arjun Purja Pun was 33 years old and was raised and recruited from Khibang village in the Magdi District in Nepal.

He passed the notoriously gruelling Gurkha selection process and was enlisted into the British Army on 30 January 1995.

His career was varied and successful and he was a hugely popular soldier wherever he served

07-14-2010, 10:12 PM

Grace

Australia

Quote:

Pvt. Nathan Bewes

From: Kogarah, New South Wales
Age: 23
Unit: 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
Died: July 9, 2010

Died of wounds sustained in a roadside bomb attack in the Chora Valley region of Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine Matthew Harrison from 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 13 July 2010, the day before his 24th birthday.

During the early evening of Tuesday 13 July 2010, Marine Harrison's unit, Charlie Company, was conducting a joint reassurance patrol with the local Afghan National Army, south of Patrol Base Seylab Doo.

At 1805 hrs local time, the patrol was engaged with small arms fire. Marine Harrison was mortally wounded in the attack. He was evacuated to Camp Bastion Role Three Hospital where he died of his wounds.

07-16-2010, 01:12 PM

Grace

14 July 2010

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The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Army released suicide data today for the month of June. Among active duty soldiers, there were 21 potential suicides: one was confirmed as a suicide, and 20 remain under investigation. For May, the Army reported 10 potential suicides among active duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, four have been confirmed as suicides, and six remain under investigation.

During June 2010, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 11 potential suicides: one was confirmed as suicide, and 10 remain under investigation. For May, among that same group, there were 13 total suicides. Of those, two were confirmed as suicides and 11 are pending determination of the manner of death.

For reference, the Army's total for the first half of calendar year 2009 was 88 for active duty and 42 for reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty. For the first half of 2010, the totals were 80 for active duty and 65 for reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty.

“Our suicide prevention efforts must continue to be directed at all members of the Army family – our soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and families – during the busy summertime transition period,” said Col. Chris Philbrick, director, Army Suicide Prevention Task Force. “The crucial elements are still caring, concern and decisive leadership. There will never be a substitute for a noncommissioned officer, first-line supervisor or friend who knows when a person is suffering and has the moral courage to act and get that individual the help they need. That ability to make a positive difference is the best method to render effective suicide prevention in the Army,” Philbrick said.

Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact Military OneSource or the Defense Center of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center. Trained consultants are available from both organizations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

07-16-2010, 01:18 PM

Grace

England

From the British Department of Defence - guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Appropriately posted in the Dog House.

They died July 14 at Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat), Fort Bragg, N.C.

07-18-2010, 12:10 PM

Grace

Great Britain

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It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Sergeant David Thomas Monkhouse, 35, from Aspatria; The Royal Dragoon Guards, was killed in Afghanistan, yesterday, Saturday 17 July 2010.

Sergeant Monkhouse, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North), was killed in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province.

07-18-2010, 12:13 PM

Grace

Great Britain

Quote:

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine Jonathan David Thomas Crookes, 26, Halesowen, West Midlands. From 40 Commando Royal Marines, was killed in Afghanistan on Friday 16 July 2010.

Marine Jonathan David Thomas Crookes, from Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in the Sangin District of Helmand Province.